If you’re anything like us, you currently have a number of Facebook events waiting for you to respond with a ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘maybe’. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll probably forget to respond to a number of these. Not because you’re a cold-hearted human with no regard for RSVP dates – although there IS a special place in hell for those people – but simply because these invites haven’t grabbed your attention enough for you to remember to respond. Totally not your fault – it’s 100% the invite’s fault.

The thing is it’s SO easy to set up a Facebook event and send out invites to your contacts list. And when something is so easy, there’s always a catch. The catch here is that people are inundated with Facebook invites on a daily basis and so they tune them out.

If you’re planning to advertise your next theatre show or play – what does this mean for you?

We’re not saying you shouldn’t use Facebook – you most definitely should. In fact, in an era where people are so wrapped up in their own online bubble that they can’t see past their phones, you should be utilising every advertising avenue available to you. This means spreading word of your show online and in print.

Posters are a tried and tested way in which to grab people’s attention and tell them about your upcoming theatre performance. They can hang anywhere – bus stops, buildings – and importantly the venue in which your play will be performed, meaning you can target the right audience and then some. But it can be daunting thinking about the ins and outs of the design process, which is why our design team here at Discount Printing has complied this list of things to remember when you’re creating print posters online.

1. COLOUR IS YOUR FRIEND. Until it’s your enemy. Clear as multi-coloured mud? Here’s the thing: you should definitely use colour to ensure your poster stands out. But you need to be selective. Ensure the colours you use complement the colour of your text and remain consistent with the colours of your other merchandise and branding.

2. IMAGERY IS POWERFUL. If you choose wisely. Do you have access to a photo of one of the actors rehearsing that encapsulates the soul of the show? Or is there a hilarious meme that captures the essence of the play? Pick images that will be evocative – you want to make people feel something.

3. MAKE INSTRUCTIONS CLEAR. How will people book tickets? Online? Over the phone? Or do they have to buy them in person at the venue?

4. LET IT BREATHE. Don’t overcrowd your poster. Once you start filling every possible space available to you, the overall effect is lost. The last thing you want to do is overwhelm and confuse people. So if you find there is some white space in your finished product – let it be.

Regardless of what you might think, cheap posters in Australia aren’t hard to come by. Give us a call on 1300 663 120 or visit us online to get your show on the road.